The Los Angeles Chargers have 46 players on their current roster and desperately need more bodies in the room to fill out the 90-man roster requirements before the start of training camp. Of course, the free agency will inch the Chargers closer to this goal, but having eight day-three draft picks for the 2025 NFL Draft will greatly help this Chargers team find back-end roster offensive targets who can contribute from day one.
Using these resources wisely in both player values and finding offensive targets that will fill depth spots on this offensive roster will ultimately lead to successful team building. That said, what are the offensive positions of focus for the Chargers on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft?
Offensive Depth Positions The Chargers Need to Target on Day 3 Of The 2025 NFL Draft
Offensive Line: Fans Are Tired Of Seeing Bad Depth
The Chargers offensive line room has improved over the years, as they have drafted offensive line prospects with multiple first-round picks in the 2020s. However, the same issue of terrible injury luck and depth remains the same. Going back to the Philip Rivers years, the Chargers offensive lines have seen guys who are not capable starters well… start.
Whether it was Sam Tevi, Trent Scott or the disaster class of Senio Kelemente, the Chargers have seen their fair share of “avalanche” esque performances across the offensive line. Even this last season, Sam Mustipher was chosen to start against Chris Jones, and that went just as well as anyone with half a brain would think it would. The offensive line needs to be on the top of the Chargers offensive position targets list.
Every team has different protection rules so it's tough to say exactly what is being coached here, but something is clearly not being communicated properly because the Chargers are consistently letting IDL run free up the middle each week. Mustipher and Pipkins go right, Bozeman… pic.twitter.com/QaASAsfnHK
— Steven Haglund (@StevenIHaglund) October 1, 2024
Current Chargers 2025 Offensive Line
So this leads us to the current room, impending free agents and possible draft capital being spent on the offensive line. The current room will bring back nearly all of their starters, with the starter that is an impending free agent, Center Bradley Bozeman, being mentioned as a very real re-sign candidate. It should be noted that starting Right Guard, Trey Pipkins, is a very likely cut candidate, and this would definitely add to the need of offensive line through the draft.
Moving forward to the depth, Foster Sarrell serves as the team swing tackle. He has been unimpressive for multiple years now. Sarrell is an impending restricted free agent. The aforementioned backup guard, Mustipher, is a free agent, former fifth-round selection, and backup Center Brenden Jaimes will also look to sign to another team. With so little talent on the roster, the Chargers need to target offensive line prospects is exacerbated.
This leaves the Bolts with Jamaree Salyer as the only valuable backup on the roster. Tyler McLellan, Bucky Williams, and Karsen Barnhart are also currently on the roster. However, they should all be looking at making the practice squad before even thinking about the future 53-man.
It should be expected for the Chargers to look into bringing in multiple free agents on top of using at least two of their draft selections on the offensive line. An offense run by Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman is even more reason for the Chargers to target offensive line prospects.
Offensive Line Targets In The Day 3 Range of The 2025 NFL Draft
OT, Hollin Pierce: 400-lb Walk On To Possible NFL Starter
Hollin Pierce is projected to go on day three (167 on the 2025 NFL Draft Consensus Board) of the 2025 NFL draft and would fit the incredible size profile for any team, especially for a team that values power like the Chargers. With his “rare combination of size and length,” Pierce has shown major development from being a 400-lb walk-on to a long-time starter at Rutgers. With his tools, just imagine what Strength and Conditioning coach Ben Herbert can do to create a monster for the Chargers.
Another stonewall rep from Rutgers OT Hollin Pierce, who I've been referring to as Tyron Smith all day. #ShrineBowl pic.twitter.com/anK7L2kLFX
— Thomas Christopher (@ThomasCP_NFL) January 25, 2025
Center, Jake Majors: A Major Draft Steal
In a previous article written about the Chargers need for an offensive line, Jake Majors was mentioned as a potential draft option. Standing at 241 on the 2025 NFL Draft Consensus Board, he is an easy option to target with one of the Chargers eight day three selections. Majors would easily fit in this offensive scheme while pushing for a starting job early on in his NFL career due to the lack of talent at the Chargers center position.
Renowned draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah had this to say about Majors: “He’s a coach’s dream with a high football IQ and operational toughness. He punches with inside hands and a well-balanced base to immediately stall early bull-rush tries. Majors is smart, tough and reliable with the potential to eventually become a starter.”
Grab your popcorn if you are watching Jake Majors vs Michigan. This was a heavyweight trench fight. Watch Majors land a solid jolt to Mason Graham, knock him off, and climb to the linebacker. pic.twitter.com/mE3Cho0XhO
— Thomas Martinez (@BoltsDraftTalk) December 19, 2024
OL, Jonah Monheim: An Easy Offensive Target
USC’s Jonah Monheim makes too much sense for the Chargers. He is a day-three offensive line prospect who can play all five spots across the offensive line, filling any need applicable. Being from Southern California, he will not have to move far if he were to be selected by the Bolts on day three.
Joe Hortiz comes from the Ravens system, where they took a chance on now free-agent Patrick Mekari, who is now a possible Chargers offensive free-agent target. Mekari and Monheim both were from California and boasted incredible positional flexibility. The only issue with Monheim and the Chargers, is that Monheim may not be the best gap scheme run blocker. But who is to say he flat-out can not do it?
Jonah Monheim (#79) needs to work on his anchor but he's got terrific feet and really good feel kicking out – almost always gets a hat on a hat.
Has played over 1000 snaps at RT, over 700 at LT, over 350 at RG and will now reportedly start at Center this year. Versatile! pic.twitter.com/NDQPVAPTMu
— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1) May 17, 2024
As Head Coach Jim Harbaugh preaches, Competitors welcome.
Wide Receiver: Always Invest in Premium Positions
The Chargers have had plenty of media focus on their talent at Wide Receiver, or lack thereof. This group has run into log-jams, injuries, free-agent signees simply not panning out, draft selections not producing, pretty much any issue you can think of, the Chargers receiver room has faced.
With Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark, Simi Fehoko and Jalen Reagor all being free agents, the Chargers will only have Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Derius Davis, Brenden Rice, Dez Fitzpatrick and Jaylen Johnson on the future 90-man roster. The first four names will be likely 53-man roster candidates, with the rest fighting for spots on the future 2025 practice squad.
This is all to say, the Chargers desperately need to target more quality offensive targets for Justin Herbert, and finding gems on day three of the NFL draft at the Wide Receiver position is becoming more and more common. Getting a Puka Nucua type of steal is not what is being discussed, but getting a guy like Davaughn Vele should not be impossible.
Wide Receiver Targets In The Day 3 Range of The 2025 NFL Draft
Pat Bryant: A Possible Faller After the NFL Combine
A personal favorite, Pat Bryant, unfortunately had a not-so-great showing at the 2025 NFL Combine. He was viewed as a possible last day-two selection but is now likely firmly a day-three target for NFL teams, as he is currently ranked 138 on the consensus board. His 4.61 40-yard dash did him no favors, but the Chargers could still look to take the chance on Bryant, who would be a great “X” target for the Bolts.
His ability to pluck the ball out of the air and be a reliable target is what teams are banking on if they were to draft him. Exactly the skill-set that Herbert and company values. Draft analyst Ian Harper mentions in his Pat Bryant scouting report, “Bryant is your natural lanky, big-body receiver who can win on the outside and over the top against NFL defensive backs.”
Pat Bryant had multiple game winning catches in 2024. He had this phenomenal catch and run to take down Rutgers. Watch as he smoothly breaks in right behind the clear out routes and finds the soft spot in the zone, makes the catch, accelerates, and is gone. pic.twitter.com/DVe837xzch
— Thomas Martinez (@BoltsDraftTalk) January 30, 2025
Kyle Williams: Buzz is Building
Someone who has built buzz recently during this draft cycle is Kyle Williams out of Washington State. He did himself a big favor at the NFL combine, running a 4.4 40-yard dash. Williams has already been on the radar for wide receiver-needy teams, but he is even more so now. He is a true offensive target for the Chargers.
Williams, beyond his combine performance, is described by Ian Harper as “[having] has all the tools of an above-average NFL receiver and could be a fantastic addition to any offense on Day 2 of the draft. His skills against physicality need improvement but he should easily be schemed in a way where his strengths are accentuated. He’s the perfect WR2 for developing QBs and will give defenses all sorts of trouble if put in the right situation.”
The only issue with Williams is that his hype is catapulting. Ranked currently as the 200th ranked prospect on the consensus board, he is starting to receive real day-two attention and will likely create an issue for the Chargers to be unable to wait to target him as their offensive weapon of choice.
I know you have to be careful with these undersized types in evaluation
But Kyle Williams is different.
11.5 aDOT but 17.1 yards per catch = YAC machine
Fastest WR in Mobile at Senior Bowl
Breaks tackles like a back
Separation comes easy
Lined up outside 80+% in college pic.twitter.com/UouySbuKz9
— David Syvertsen (@Ourlads_Sy) February 25, 2025
Nick Nash: Production Can Lie… But Nash Might Just Be The Truth
The San Jose State Quarterback to Wide Receiver convert got plenty of attention during the college football season due to him winning the triple crown in his respective conference. With 104 catches, 1382 yards and 16 touchdowns, why is Nick Nash not getting the hype of a first-round level prospect?
The answer lies in the fact that he is not the most athletic receiver who is coming from a smaller conference. Nash will be able to bring experience to any receiver room and very well could be the reliable, underrated target that Herbert is missing.
At the rank of 181 on the consensus board, Nash is flying under the radar. His unimpressive combine performance did not help his case either. Even with the buzz settling for Nash, it should still be in heavy consideration for the Chargers to target him on day three of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Just an unbelievable catch by San Jose State’s Nick Nash at the East-West Shrine Bowl. He was second in the country in first down receptions this past season (71). pic.twitter.com/R9k6IPFYtt
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) January 28, 2025
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
